CITY OF MALOLOS — “One way of achieving a holistic approach to long time progress is banking on our local business and cooperatives because they are the foundation and lifeblood of our economic survival.”
Speaking at the Philippine Federation of Credit Cooperatives (PFCCO) National 11th Annual General Assembly and 2023 Educational Forum held at Clark Marriott Hotel in Pampanga recently, Governor Daniel R. Fernando encouraged his fellow public servants to enforce more laws and policies that will truly help the cooperatives to stand on their own.
“We have to enforce more laws and policies like the ease of doing business, strict execution of cooperative tax exemption and privileges, and other support programs, and we have to implement them properly,” the governor said.
Fernando also vowed to continue the legacy of Bulakenyo cooperative advocates to make cooperativism remain rooted in unity and cooperation and make every Filipino benefit from the development of this sector.
“Ang legasiyang iniwan ng ating Father of Cooperation, dating Bulacan Governor Teodoro Sandiko ang siyang nagpaalab sa aking pagpapahalaga sa kooperatiba, gayundin ang adhikain ng dati ring Bulacan Governor Roberto “Obet” Pagdanganan na paigtingin ang kilusang kooperatiba matapos and EDSA Revolution,” Fernando added.
The governor highlighted that Bulacan is known as the Cooperative Capital of the Philippines not just because of the numbers but because of how the province envisions and fulfills its goal for the cooperative sector.
“Sa kasalukuyan, ang Bulacan ay mayroong 336 registered cooperatives na mayroong kabuuang assets na nagkakahalaga ng P19.85 bilyon. Nasa Bulacan din ang halos lahat ng uri ng kooperatiba maliban sa electric service cooperative. Binubuo ito ng 34 large, 55 medium, 99 small, at 163 micro cooperatives na ating tinututukan,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment Chairman Senator Cynthia Villar said that cooperatives and social enterprises better know the desires of the Filipinos who need their help.
“Nothing can equal the help of cooperatives in the growth of a community and small business and alleviating the lives of farmers and fishermen,” the lady senator said.
The PFCCO National 2023 Educational Forum Path to Post COVID-19 Recovery of Credit Unions was anchored on the theme “Greener. Inclusive. Resilient.” and was attended by cooperative leaders from all over the country. (UnliNews Online)
